Braking device for in-line skates

Abstract: A braking device for in-line skates is constituted by a body (7) with which one of the wheels (6) is rotatably associated. The body is pivoted to the frame (2), so that it can oscillate in contrast with adjustable springs (18a, 18b) and is interposed between two mutually contiguous wheels and interacts, together with the frame, with the two wheels when the skate is rotated forwards or backwards.

Description: The present invention relates to an in-line skate with a braking device. Stopping the skate during sports practice is currently a problem both for the ordinary user and for the athlete. In conventional skates, a brake is in fact associated at the rear of the wheel supporting frame and is constituted by a pad, made of soft or semirigid plastic material, which is made to interact with the ground when the user tilts the skate backwards. This operation however is dangerous and uneasy both for the amateurs and the athletes that may lose their balance. Furthermore, the pad wears considerably and must be replaced very often. Solutions are also known that entail the interaction of a brake directly on the rolling surface of the wheel. The consequent drawback is that the braking action that is achieved is sudden, because it is concentrated on a single wheel and because a brisk actuation by the user is required when tilting the skate. EP-A-0379906 discloses a skate having a lever with two braking surfaces pivotably mounted to a skate body and acting on two wheels simultaneously. All of the wheels, however, are mounted directly to the skate body. The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the drawbacks described above by providing a skate that allows both an amateur user and an athlete to stop the skate, or reduce its speed gradually, and to perform this maneuver in safety. Another object is to provide a skate with aligned wheels that allows better control over the braking action, customizing it according to the type of track being used and to the particular sport being practiced, such as slalom or speed skating. Another important object is to provide a skate that has a simple structure and is easy to industrialize. Another object is to provide a skate that allows the user to maintain good balance while braking. Another object is to provide a skate that is reliable, safe in use, and has very low manufacturing costs allowing its widespread diffusion. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent from the description that follows are achieved by a skate as claimed in the appended claims. Other objects will become apparent during the following description, which must be considered together with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of non-limitative example a particular embodiment and wherein: Figure 1 is a partially sectional side exploded view of the braking device, according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the skate, taken along a median longitudinal plane of the frame, in the rolling position; Figure 3 is a view of the skate similar to the preceding one, in the braking position; Figure 4 is a top partial view of the rear part of the skate in the braking position; Figure 5 is a view similar to the preceding one, in the rolling position. With reference to the above figures, and bearing in mind that they exemplify a particular embodiment and are in variable scale, and that individual reference numerals designate identical or equivalent parts, the reference numeral 1 designates the braking device, particularly for in-line skates having a U-shaped frame 2 with first wings 3 and 4 directed towards the ground 5, and a plurality of in-line wheels 6 pivoted to the wings. The braking device is constituted by a body 7 which is essentially Y-shaped in longitudinal cross-section, so as to form a stem 8 which is connected to a second wing 9 and to a third wing 10. The second wing 9, and partially the third wing 10, are curved and are shaped approximately complementarily with respect to the rolling surface of the wheels 6, both in transverse cross-section and in longitudinal cross-section. Two first tabs 11a and 11b are shaped essentially like a triangle with a rounded tip, and connect the stem 8 and the third wing 10. Tabs 11a and 11b are transversely perforated at one end, and are shaped so as to accommodate a pivot for a single wheel 6, between the tabs, so that the wheel can rotate freely. One region of the third wing 10 thus faces at least the rolling surface of the wheel that is associated with the body 7. At least one first hole 12 is formed transversely at the tips of the stem 8 and allows to associate the body 7, so that it can oscillate, at two second tabs 13a and 13b that protrude at the first wings 3 and 4 of the frame 2, preferably at the rear region thereof. As an alternative, the second two tabs can protrude at the front region of the frame. At the above mentioned rear region, the frame also has a recess 14 that allows the body 7 to arrange itself inside the frame 2. Body 7 is connected to the frame by an adapted pivot engaging second holes 15 which are formed at the second two tabs 13a and 13b. The body 7 can thus be interposed between two adjacent wheels 6 and is associated with the frame 2 so that it can oscillate. One of the wheels 6 is freely pivoted to the body 7. The tip of the third wing 10 of the body 7 protrudes upward towards the frame and can be placed at a suitable opening 16, formed transversely to the frame 2, at the base 17 that connects the first wings 3 and 4 in the region above the recess 14. The tip of the third wing 10 thus interacts in contrast with two flexible members, such as two springs 18a and 18b, which are arranged at adapted first parallel seats 19a and 19b. Seats 19a, 19b, are formed longitudinally at the base 17 of the frame 2. The third wing 10 also has, at its tip, two third holes or second seats 20 for the stems 21a and 21b of two screws 22a and 22b which in turn pass through two fourth holes 23a and 23b. Fourth holes 23a, 23b are formed on the base 17 of the frame 2, in a region that is adjacent to the opening 16, and have the same axis as the first seats 19a and 19b. The stems 21a and 21b are thus arranged axially with respect to the springs 18a and 18b, and their tip can be secured at two bolts 24a and 24b which are arranged within the first seats 19a and 19b, without being able to rotate. The heads 25a and 25b of the screws 22a and 22b can be accessed externally and to the rear of the base 17, whereas the springs 18a and 18b are interposed between the bolts 24a and 24b and the tip of the third wing 10. At the base 17, in a region that is adjacent to the fourth holes 23a and 23b, the frame 2 has a tang 30 that lies above the wheel 6 that is pivoted to the body 7. This tang 30 has a surface 31 shaped complementarily to the facing rolling surface of the wheel 6. The operation of the braking device is as follows: once the bolts 24a and 24b and the springs 18a and 18b have been placed at the first seats 19a and 19b, and once the body 7 has been inserted in the first wings 3 and 4 of the frame 2, it is possible to rotatably associate the body 7 to the frame, preventing the second wing 9 and the surface 31 of the tang 30 from interacting respectively with the facing wheels 6, because it is possible to pre-load the springs 18a and 18b, to the required amount by virtue of the screws 22a and 22b. Figure 2 shows the rolling position, wherein the wheels 6 that are adjacent to the body 7 can rotate about their own axes without interfering with the second wing 9 and with the surface 31 of the tang 30. If the user wishes to stop or slow down the skate it is sufficient to tilt the skate backwards so as to compress the springs 18a and 18b, as shown in Figure 3, making the second wing 9 rest on the surface of the facing wheel 6 and, at the same time, making the surface 31, of the tang 30, interact with the wheel 6 that is pivoted to the body 7. In this braking position there are therefore two wheels in contact with the ground, and this also improves the stability that can be achieved by the user. It is thus evident that the braking device has achieved the intended aim and all the stated objects, allowing the athlete to stop the skate or reduce its speed gradually, by making the second wing 9 interact gradually with a wheel 6 and by making the surface 31 of the tang 30 interact with another wheel. The breaking device also allows the user to perform the maneuver in safety, since any imbalance caused by the interaction of the second wing 9 and of the surface 31 with the wheels, improves ground contact, which is provided by two wheels. The gradual nature of the braking action can also be provided by diversifying the materials used for the second wing 9 and the surface 31 of the tang 30. The possibility to adjust the compression of the flexible parts also allows to achieve better control over the braking action, customizing it according to the weight of the user, to the type of track being used, and to the particular sport being practiced, such as slalom or speed skating. If the user does not want to take advantage of the braking action, springs 18a and 18b can be compressed so as to avoid rotation of the body 7, following a rotation applied to the skate. In this manner, none of the wheels interacts with the second wing 9 or with the surface 31 of the tang 30. The materials and the dimensions of the individual components of the device may of course vary according to the requirements. The skate according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the flexible parts may be constituted by one or more plastic pads or blocks and their compression may be adjustable by using adapted rigid blocks or blocks with different deformations. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A skate comprising a frame (2), at least first and second in-line wheels (6), a body (7) pivoted to said frame (2) in a region between said wheels (6) and being biased by an adjustable flexible member (18a,18b), said body (7) interacting with said first wheel to provide a braking force when the body is pivoted with respect to the frame; characterized in that said second wheel is mounted on said body (7) such that the frame also interacts with said second wheel to provide a braking force when said body is pivoted with respect to said frame on tilting of the skate. The skate according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (7) is substantially Y-shaped in longitudinal cross-section so as to form a stem (8) that is connected to a second wing (9) and a third wing (10). The skate according to claim 2, characterized in that said second wing (9), and partially said third wing (10), are curved and approximately shaped complementarily to the rolling surface of said wheels (6) both in transverse cross-section and in longitudinal cross-section. The skate according to either one claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises first tabs (11a, 11b) for connecting said stem (8) and said third wing (10), said first tabs being transversely perforated at one end and being shaped so as to accommodate, between them, a pivot for said second wheel (6). The skate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame comprises a tang (30) that has an internal surface (31) which is shaped complementarily to the rolling surface of said second wheel (6) pivoted to said body (7). The skate according to at least claim 2, characterized in that at least one first hole (12) is formed transversely at the tips of said stem (8) and allows to associate said body (7), so that it can oscillate, at a second pair of tabs (13a, 13b) that protrude at first wings (3, 4) of said frame (2). The skate according to claim 6, characterized in that said frame (2) has at least one recess (14) which allows said body to arrange itself in the interspace between said first wings, the connection between said body and said frame occurring by virtue of two suitable second holes (15) which are formed at said second pair of tabs (13a, 13b) and constitute the seats for a pivot. The skate according to claim 7, characterized in that the tip of said third wing (10) of said body (7), that does not face said second wheel, protrudes upward towards said frame (2) and can be arranged at an adapted opening (16) formed transversely to said frame (2) at said base (17) for mutually connecting said first wings (3, 4) in the region above said recess (14). The skate according to claim 8, characterized in that said tip of said third wing (10) interacts with two flexible members (18a, 18b) arranged at adapted parallel first seats (19a, 19b) formed longitudinally at said base (17) of said frame (2). The skate according to claim 9, characterized in that said third wing (10) has, at its tip, two third holes, or seats (20), for stems (21a, 21b) of two screws (22a, 22b) which in turn pass through two fourth holes (23a, 23b) which are formed on said base (17) of said frame (2) in a region that is adjacent to said opening (16) and have the same axis as said first seats (19a, 19b). The skate according to claim 10, characterized in that said stems (21a, 21b) of said two screws (22a, 22b) are arranged axially with respect to said springs (18a, 18b) and in that their tips can be secured at an appropriate pair of bolts (24a, 24b) arranged within said first seats (19a, 19b) without being able to rotate. The skate according to claim 11, characterized in that heads (25a, 25b) of said screws (22a, 22b) can be accessed from outside and to the rear of said base (17), whereas said springs (18a, 18b) are interposed between said bolts (24a, 24b) and said tip of said third wing (10). The skate according to one or more of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that a backward rotation of said body with respect to said frame causes an interaction of said surface (31) of said tang (30) with said second wheel (6) and the interaction of said second wing (9) of said body (7) with said first wheel (6).

Inventors: CONTE GINO, CONTE, GINO
Applicants: ROCES SRL, ROCES S.R.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17